Surgeon says that my breasts aren't tuberous, but they look tuberous - or abnormal - to me. Need a second opinion (Photo)

Unfortunately, surgeons have created the term tuberous breasts, a fact which causes unnecessary concerns for women. Many women just have different sizes and shapes and in my opinion shouldn't be labeled. I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Tuberous breast deformity is a constellation of findings - high inframammary fold, widened areola, herniating breast tissue, deficient volume in the breast mound. You do not have this diagnosis. You are a good candidate for breast augmentation without the need to correct any tuberous deformity. I hope this helps.

An in-person assessment would be the most effective way to determine if your breasts are tuberous. Based on your photos alone, there does seem to be some mild constriction of tissue around your nipples. However, release of constricted tissue may not be necessary based on your surgeon’s assessment.

Good afternoon,
You have some tuberous characteristics, like a wide gap, narrow base and short nipple to fold distance, but your anatomy really isn't severe enough to be classified as tuberous. Realize it's a spectrum from mild to severe and at some point you call it tuberous and everything short of that you don't. In my opinion you fall short of the diagnosis. You are an excellent candidate for a submuscular augmentation for better shape, cleavage and upper pole fullness. You may choose saline or silicone gel, depending on your preference. We would determine the exact size and profile when I measure your chest, we review photos together, and you have an opportunity to try on the implant sizers here in the office.

Your breasts are not tuberous but widely separated. You could benefit from fat transfers to fill out the bottom of the breasts, if desired. If you undergo breast augmentation, the implant will have to be centered underneath the nipple-areola complex. This often required cutting the muscle and implants may bottom out inferior and laterally. An alternative to consider is a mini lift. Using a circumareola incision, your breast tissue is reshaped, elevated higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. At the same time, fat transfers or small implants can be placed totally submuscular.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

While not tuberous, you do have a paucity of skin which makes it very easy to over-augment your breast and create deformities like a double-bubble or possibly symmastia.

Your surgeon will need to carefully select an implant that matches the ability of your skin and tissues to safely hold, while strictly respecting you base diameter.

It doesn't look that you have tuberous breasts. They are small, symmetric, lower breast pole and inframammary fold are not well defined. Augmentation with high profile implant of moderate volume in the range of 250-275 ml (to avoid overstretching tight skin envelope) would be my suggestion. In person second and third opinion consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is recommended. Good luck.

Thank you for your inquiry and photos. An examination in person would be required to advise you specifically. That said, there are several components to a "tuberous breast deformity" once of which is a tube like appearance to the areola and underlying breast. You do not appear to have such a breast shape. The other component is a short "lower pole" or distance between the nipple and the bottom of the breast defined by the inframammary fold. This indeed appears to be a feature of your breasts, and like many women who are small breasted, you do not appear to have a well defined inframammary fold. Therefore, a properly designed and performed breast augmentation for a patient such as yourself would necessitate lowering your inframammary fold and this is part of proper planning that an experienced board certified plastic surgeon would understand. Your inframammary fold would also presumably become better defined and you would indeed achieve a rounded and more "filled out" lower pole.
Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon whose aesthetics seem to align with your own based on his or her Before and After gallery.

You do not have tuberous breasts. A standard breast augmentation will give you a wonderful result.
Greg Sexton,MD
Columbia, S.C.

Hello Angxl,
You do not have tuberous breasts.
I agree with you that rounding out and filling your lower pole are excellent goals for a breast augmentation.
A 'regular breast augmentation' will be enough, however the importance of careful assessment and planning both before and during surgery can't be underestimated.
For example, measurements of your chest, assessing the elasticity of your tissues, choosing implant size and profile, and adjustment of the position of the inframammary fold at the lower part of your breast at the time of surgery are all important aspects to achieving the result you are looking for. Be sure to see an experienced surgeon and to review your concerns at a consultation.
All the best to you,
Dr. Nancy de Kleer
Oakville Plastic Surgery